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To numerous female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman prime minister is powerful and formative.

It means a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

However, although the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

It was rather fascinating to see how individuals outside Japan have responded to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a very naive view.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Analysts note her leadership is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against legislation that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against women being in line for succession in the royal household.

However, she moderated certain her statements during her election bid – stating she supports giving tax incentives to companies that provide daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for families investing in childcare.

But she has over the years backed the idea of a conventional position for females in society and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar record on gender issues.

Japan's Inequality in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they struggle with the demands of a traditional culture that still directs them into traditional roles.

According to the 2025 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to boost the quantity of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, females constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change how females perceive their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in businesses and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it required her more than 30 years to reach that position.

“She's also not truly challenging the grain. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her agenda. We need to be able to criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Context and Associations

It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the male-dominated system.

Additionally, it is apparent by who her supporters inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the late former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the conservative wing behind her.

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we have to be compliant with the status quo,” young adult a citizen says.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “people are likely to anticipate the same from us as well”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our role harder.”

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the trust of a discontented and irate voting public, as well as welcoming president Trump within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.